When Engineering Becomes Art

Engineering does not always have to begin with a machine, a building or a circuit.

Sometimes it can begin with a story.

From 25–28 November 2025, MAHANAKORN hosted Waves of Hope: Tales from the Ocean, a kinetic-art competition that invited young creators to combine engineering mechanics with artistic expression while exploring themes connected with the ocean and environmental conservation.

The challenge was simple to describe, but much harder to build:

Create an artwork that moves.

Make that movement meaningful.

And use it to tell a story about the ocean.

Building Movement into a Story

Kinetic art sits somewhere between engineering and visual art.

A sculpture might use gears, motors, mechanical structures or moving components, but those systems are not there simply to demonstrate that they work.

Their movement becomes part of the message.

For Waves of Hope, participants developed works around the theme “Tales from the Ocean,” exploring ideas including marine ecosystems, plastic pollution, environmental change and hope for restoration.

Entries were evaluated across four areas:

That meant teams had to think like both creators and engineers.

An idea needed to look compelling, communicate something meaningful and physically function as intended.

From Concept to Working Sculpture

Teams arrived on 25 November to install and calibrate their kinetic artworks before presenting their concepts during the pitching round on 26 November.

That process is surprisingly close to engineering itself.

A concept begins on paper.

Then it has to be designed.

Built.

Tested.

Adjusted.

And eventually explained to someone else.

When movement is part of the artwork, every mechanical decision can affect the story being told.

A motor may determine the rhythm.

A structure may determine how an object moves.

Materials can influence both appearance and performance.

The final work therefore becomes the result of creative thinking, technical problem-solving and communication working together.

More Than a Competition

The final awards ceremony took place on 28 November at the Mahanakorn Institute of Innovation, with more than THB 100,000 in prizes awarded across the competition.

But the strongest idea behind Waves of Hope goes beyond who won.

The competition created a space where students from different academic backgrounds could approach the same challenge from different perspectives.

Someone interested in engineering might focus first on mechanism and movement.

Someone from a creative background might begin with form, emotion or storytelling.

Bring those perspectives together, and the result can become something neither discipline would necessarily create on its own.

That is what interdisciplinary learning can look like in practice.

Engineering Can Be Creative

Engineering is often associated with calculations, specifications and technical systems.

Those things matter.

But engineering also involves imagination.

Before something can be designed, someone has to imagine what it could become.

Competitions such as Waves of Hope give students an opportunity to experiment with that side of engineering — using mechanics, electronics and design not simply to solve a technical problem, but to communicate an idea.

And sometimes the most interesting work happens when the boundaries between disciplines begin to disappear.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in turning creative ideas into physical systems can begin building relevant skills through:

Mechanical Engineering
Explore mechanics, engineering design and physical systems while learning how ideas can move from concept into working prototypes.

Explore Mechanical Engineering →

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Develop knowledge in electronics, circuits, sensors and control technologies that can bring movement and interaction into intelligent physical systems.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Build skills in computing and intelligent systems that can add software, automation and new forms of interaction to future creative technologies.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

The most interesting ideas do not always fit inside one discipline. Sometimes engineering starts moving when creativity enters the room.

A New Global Chapter for MAHANAKORN

A university partnership becomes meaningful when it creates new opportunities for students.

On 17 October 2025, MAHANAKORN announced a strategic partnership with Arizona State University (ASU), becoming a Powered by ASU institution and a member of the ASU-Cintana Alliance.

The alliance connects universities across multiple countries with the goal of expanding access to internationally connected education, innovation and academic collaboration.

For students at MAHANAKORN, the partnership is designed to bring elements of that global network directly into their learning experience in Thailand.

What Powered by ASU Means for Students

The collaboration goes beyond the name.

As a Powered by ASU institution, MAHANAKORN students can benefit from ASU-enhanced academic content, digital learning resources and global teaching practices integrated into the university’s learning environment.

The partnership also includes opportunities such as:

Instead of international education being limited to studying overseas, the goal is to bring more global learning experiences into the student journey from the beginning.

Learning Without Borders

The partnership also creates a foundation for greater international mobility.

MAHANAKORN has stated that structured pathways are being developed for qualified students to continue their studies through ASU Online or at Arizona State University campuses in the United States.

Students may also gain access to exchange, immersion and other internationally connected learning opportunities through the partnership and wider alliance network.

That gives students more ways to build an international perspective without requiring every part of their education to happen outside Thailand.

Part of a Wider Global Network

Through the partnership, MAHANAKORN also joins the ASU-Cintana Alliance, a network that includes universities across Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Being part of that network creates opportunities for universities, faculty and students to connect across borders through academic collaboration, global projects and shared learning experiences.

For students, that can mean exposure to different ideas, industries and ways of solving problems — experience that becomes increasingly valuable in careers shaped by technology and global collaboration.

Bringing Global Learning into the Classroom

The next step is turning the partnership into everyday student experience.

MAHANAKORN has already begun integrating ASU-enhanced content, global teaching approaches and digital learning tools into its programs, alongside opportunities for innovation challenges and internationally connected projects.

The value of Powered by ASU is therefore not simply having an international university partner.

It is about creating more ways for students to learn from global knowledge while building their own future from Thailand.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students looking for an internationally connected university experience can explore opportunities across MAHANAKORN.

Global Pathways
Explore international study routes that allow students to begin their education at MAHANAKORN and continue part of their degree overseas.

Explore Global Pathways →

Computer & AI Engineering
Build foundations in computing, artificial intelligence and data within a learning environment increasingly connected with global academic and technology networks.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

Digital Marketing
Develop digital strategy, consumer insight and modern marketing skills for a business environment shaped by global platforms and rapidly changing technology.

Explore Digital Marketing →

Management & Digital Entrepreneur
Build business, leadership and entrepreneurial skills while learning to create opportunities in an increasingly international and technology-driven economy.

Explore Management & Digital Entrepreneur →

A global university experience does not have to begin thousands of kilometres away. It can begin in the classroom — and expand from there.

Learning Business Beyond the Textbook

Starting a business requires more than having a good idea.

You need to understand customers.

Know how to communicate online.

Manage money.

Test whether an idea can actually work.

And learn how to adapt when the market changes.

On 23 September 2025, MAHANAKORN announced a collaboration with the Federation of Thai SME focused on academic development and the incubation of a new generation of entrepreneurs.

The partnership is designed to connect students and faculty with practical knowledge, professional experience and entrepreneurial skills that can be applied beyond the classroom.

Learning from People Building Businesses Today

Entrepreneurship changes quickly because the way people discover, buy and interact with businesses keeps changing.

That is why practical exposure matters.

As part of the collaboration, students were introduced to topics including:

These subjects represent different parts of the same journey.

Content helps a business attract attention.

Digital platforms can turn that attention into customers.

Financial management helps determine whether the business can continue growing.

For students thinking about launching a brand, joining a startup or eventually managing their own company, understanding how those areas connect can be just as important as understanding them individually.

From an Idea to a Business

University is a useful place to experiment.

An idea does not immediately need to become a company.

Students can begin by identifying a problem, understanding an audience and testing whether people actually want the solution.

They can then think about positioning, pricing, marketing and how the business would generate revenue.

The collaboration with the Federation of Thai SME is intended to strengthen that practical side of entrepreneurial learning, bringing knowledge from Thailand’s business community closer to students and faculty.

This is particularly relevant as digital platforms lower some of the barriers to starting a business.

A student today can test a product, create content, reach potential customers and build an audience without beginning with a large organisation.

But easier access does not guarantee success.

Knowing how to make better decisions still matters.

Entrepreneurship Is More Than Starting a Company

Entrepreneurial skills can also be useful for students who do not plan to launch a business immediately.

Understanding customers can help marketers.

Financial thinking can help managers.

Digital communication can help almost any organisation.

And learning how to turn an idea into something people actually value can be useful across many different careers.

That is why entrepreneurship is not simply about becoming a founder.

It is also about developing the ability to recognise opportunities, test ideas and turn those ideas into something practical.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in entrepreneurship, digital business and building brands can develop relevant skills through:

Management & Digital Entrepreneur
Build foundations in management, entrepreneurship and digital business while learning how ideas can develop into viable business opportunities.

Explore Management & Digital Entrepreneur →

Digital Marketing
Develop skills in digital strategy, content, consumer behaviour and online marketing for businesses operating across modern digital platforms.

Explore Digital Marketing →

Global Logistics & Industrial Management
Explore how businesses manage operations, supply chains and resources as they grow across increasingly connected markets.

Explore Global Logistics & Industrial Management →

MBA Global Management
Take business and management further through postgraduate study focused on leadership and managing organisations in an international environment.

Explore MBA Global Management →

A business can begin with an idea. Building one requires learning how to turn that idea into something people actually want.

Building Thailand’s Microelectronics Talent

Semiconductors sit behind many of the technologies people use every day — from smartphones and electric vehicles to AI systems, industrial automation and connected devices.

Building a stronger semiconductor industry therefore requires more than manufacturing capacity. It requires engineers, researchers and specialists who understand the technologies behind it.

During an official visit to Arizona State University (ASU) on 8–9 September 2025, representatives from Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and MAHANAKORN met with ASU to expand cooperation in microelectronics education, research and workforce development.

The visit resulted in a memorandum of understanding designed to strengthen long-term collaboration between Thailand and ASU in this strategic technology sector.

Education, Research and Industry Working Together

One of the central ideas behind the collaboration is that semiconductor talent cannot be developed by universities working alone.

Curricula need to respond to technology changes.

Research needs connections with real industrial challenges.

Students need opportunities to understand how what they learn connects with the wider semiconductor ecosystem.

The collaboration therefore brings together government, universities and industry to explore academic programs, research initiatives and workforce-development models that can support Thailand’s growing microelectronics sector.

The wider discussions have also involved organisations across Thailand’s semiconductor ecosystem, including the Thailand Semiconductor Industry Association, Thailand Printed Circuit Association and Thailand Microelectronics Center.

Learning from Arizona’s Semiconductor Ecosystem

Arizona has developed a significant semiconductor and advanced-manufacturing ecosystem, making the visit an opportunity to look beyond the classroom and study how education connects with industry at scale.

A roundtable during the visit included representatives from companies and organisations such as Intel, Microchip, Siemens, Deca, Benchmark, the Arizona Commerce Authority and the City of Chandler’s economic-development team.

These conversations focused on how international cooperation could contribute to Thailand’s microelectronics strategy and future workforce.

For students, this wider perspective matters.

A career in semiconductors may involve much more than chip design. Opportunities can extend across embedded systems, electronics, AI, manufacturing, automation, testing, packaging and advanced research.

From Partnership to Future Capability

The September agreement became part of a broader Thailand–ASU semiconductor initiative focused on building talent and innovation capacity.

Subsequent plans include areas such as semiconductors and advanced packaging, microelectronics and embedded systems, and AI-integrated smart manufacturing, alongside hands-on training and research collaboration.

For MAHANAKORN, involvement in this ecosystem creates another connection between engineering education in Thailand and the global technology networks where semiconductor innovation is taking place.

The goal is not simply to study where the industry is today.

It is to help prepare the people who will move it forward.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in microelectronics, semiconductors and intelligent technology can begin building relevant foundations through:

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Develop knowledge in electronic circuits, communication systems and technologies directly connected with advanced electronics, embedded systems and semiconductor applications.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Build foundations in computing, artificial intelligence and data for intelligent systems increasingly powered by advanced semiconductor technology.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

Process & Industrial Engineering
Explore industrial systems, process improvement and technologies relevant to advanced manufacturing and increasingly automated production environments.

Explore Process & Industrial Engineering →

For students interested in taking advanced technology further through research:

Explore Postgraduate Research →

The semiconductor industry begins with technology, but its future depends on the people prepared to design, improve and build it.

From Bangkok to an International Engineering Pathway

Studying engineering does not have to mean spending four years in one place.

MAHANAKORN’s collaboration with Oxford Brookes University gives students a pathway to begin their engineering education in Bangkok before continuing their studies in the United Kingdom.

On 23 May 2025, MAHANAKORN joined a Thai higher-education delegation visiting Oxford Brookes University to strengthen academic cooperation and explore further opportunities around engineering education, international study and workforce development.

The visit built on an existing 2+2 pathway, where eligible students can complete their first two years at MAHANAKORN and continue their final two years at Oxford Brookes University.

Building a Pathway Around Future Engineering

The relationship with Oxford Brookes is becoming particularly relevant to areas such as mechanical engineering, motorsport engineering and electric vehicle technology.

Earlier in May 2025, the two universities signed an agreement to deepen academic collaboration and explore the development of motorsport-focused engineering education connected with electric vehicles and modern automotive technology.

Oxford Brookes brings a strongly practical approach through Oxford Brookes Racing, where students design, build and compete with Formula Student vehicles.

For MAHANAKORN, that provides a useful model for engineering education that connects classroom knowledge with design, testing, teamwork and real performance challenges.

Seeing Motorsport Engineering Up Close

The UK visit also included Williams Racing, giving the delegation a closer look at advanced motorsport engineering and the technologies behind high-performance racing.

Formula 1 brings multiple engineering disciplines together.

Aerodynamics, electronics, data, materials, mechanical design, control systems and software all have to work as one system — often under extreme performance requirements.

That makes motorsport more than a competition.

It can also become a high-speed laboratory for engineering ideas that later influence areas such as electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, simulation and intelligent automotive systems.

More Than Studying Abroad

An international pathway is valuable not simply because students change countries.

The bigger opportunity is exposure to a different academic environment, engineering culture and industry ecosystem.

Through the 2+2 model, students can begin building their engineering foundations at MAHANAKORN before continuing their studies overseas and working toward a degree from the partner university.

Oxford Brookes currently offers pathway options connected with areas including Mechanical Engineering, Motorsport Engineering, Automotive Engineering with Electric Vehicles, Mechanical Engineering Design and Motorsport Technology.

For students interested in engineering careers that may cross borders, that combination of local foundations and international experience can create a very different university journey.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in engineering, automotive technology and international study can explore:

Global Pathways
Begin your degree at MAHANAKORN and explore opportunities to continue your studies with international university partners.

Explore Global Pathways →

Mechanical Engineering
Build foundations in mechanics, engineering design, systems and technology relevant to automotive, manufacturing and advanced engineering industries.

Explore Mechanical Engineering →

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Develop knowledge in electronics, control and communication technologies that increasingly form part of electric and intelligent vehicle systems.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Explore computing, AI and data technologies that are becoming increasingly important across simulation, intelligent vehicles and modern engineering systems.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

Engineering can begin in Bangkok and take you much further than one classroom, one campus or one country.

Connecting Thailand with Global Research

Some of the technologies shaping the next decade will emerge where different disciplines meet.

Semiconductors power modern electronics.

Artificial intelligence makes systems more intelligent.

Biosensors connect electronics with information from the human body, agriculture and the environment.

On 22 May 2025, MAHANAKORN and Imperial College London officially launched the Semiconductor AI & BioSensor Electronics Research Lab — SABER Lab in the United Kingdom, creating a joint platform for advanced research and researcher development.

The collaboration combines Imperial’s expertise in integrated circuit design and biomedical electronics with MAHANAKORN’s capabilities in electronics design, engineering education and technical training.

Semiconductor, AI and Biosensors in One Research Platform

SABER Lab is designed around technologies that increasingly overlap.

Its research covers areas including:

The goal is not only to conduct research, but to develop technologies that can move toward real applications.

That includes biosensor systems for healthcare, electronic technologies for agriculture and new semiconductor systems capable of supporting increasingly intelligent devices.

For engineering students, it is a clear example of why future technologies cannot always be separated into individual disciplines.

A single system may require knowledge of circuits, AI, sensors, software and data working together.

Research Across Bangkok and London

SABER Lab operates through research and training facilities at both Imperial College London and MAHANAKORN in Thailand.

Imperial’s research activity focuses particularly on integrated circuit design using advanced CMOS technologies, while MAHANAKORN contributes electronics design and PCB training capabilities through its facilities in Thailand.

This creates a research connection that extends beyond a single laboratory.

Students and researchers can become part of a wider academic environment connecting Thailand with researchers, facilities and expertise in the United Kingdom.

Industry partners are also expected to contribute to the research ecosystem through placements and collaboration, helping connect academic research with skills required in the semiconductor industry.

Developing the Next Generation of Researchers

One of the most significant parts of the initiative is researcher development.

Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is supporting five PhD scholarships per year for five years for Thai researchers to study within Imperial’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering through the SABER Lab initiative.

Research areas include integrated circuit design, AI architectures, biosensing and biomedical engineering.

For students beginning their engineering education today, that shows where a technical foundation can eventually lead.

An undergraduate interest in electronics, computing or AI can grow into postgraduate research, international collaboration and the development of technologies with applications far beyond the university laboratory.

From Research to Real-World Impact

SABER Lab also has a longer-term ambition to connect research with entrepreneurship and industry.

Its research strategy includes translating new technologies into practical applications and supporting the development of startups and spin-outs, particularly around healthcare, agriculture, semiconductor design and intelligent electronic systems.

That connection matters.

Research creates knowledge.

Engineering turns that knowledge into technology.

And entrepreneurship can help move that technology into the world.

For students, SABER Lab represents what can happen when those stages become part of the same ecosystem.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in semiconductors, electronics, AI and advanced research can begin building relevant foundations through:

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Build knowledge in electronics, circuits, communication systems and technologies that form the foundation of semiconductor and advanced electronic systems.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Develop foundations in computing, artificial intelligence and data for intelligent systems increasingly connected with advanced hardware and embedded technology.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Advance your knowledge in electrical and electronic engineering while preparing for deeper technical and research-focused work.

Explore Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering →

Postgraduate Research
Explore opportunities to continue from engineering education into advanced research and international academic collaboration.

Explore Postgraduate Research →

The technologies of the future will not be built by one discipline or one country alone. SABER Lab is designed around what becomes possible when both connect.

Bringing Semiconductor Education Closer to Industry

Learning about semiconductor technology in a classroom is one thing.

Seeing how that knowledge is applied inside the industry is another.

On 4 March 2025, MAHANAKORN signed a collaboration agreement with UTAC, a semiconductor company with more than 40 years of industry experience, to support talent development and strengthen connections between higher education and Thailand’s semiconductor sector.

The collaboration focuses on creating opportunities for students and industry professionals to develop skills through practical experience, research and direct engagement with the semiconductor industry.

From Classroom Knowledge to Industry Experience

A semiconductor career can involve far more than understanding electronic circuits.

Students also need to learn how technologies are developed, tested and applied within complex industrial environments.

The MAHANAKORN–UTAC collaboration includes opportunities through:

These experiences can help students connect what they study with the expectations and working processes of a real technology company.

That connection becomes especially important in industries where technology changes quickly and universities need to keep pace with evolving skills and technical requirements.

Building Skills Around Real Technology

MAHANAKORN’s wider semiconductor initiative includes training in areas such as IC design, PCB and PCBA design, microelectronics and intelligent electronic systems, alongside laboratory development and partnerships with technology companies including UTAC.

Industry collaboration adds another layer to that learning.

A student may understand how a circuit works in theory.

An industry environment introduces different questions.

Can it be manufactured reliably?

How is quality controlled?

How can a process be improved?

How does one component fit into a much larger production system?

These are the kinds of questions that begin connecting engineering knowledge with professional practice.

Developing People Alongside Technology

Thailand’s semiconductor ambitions depend not only on attracting companies and investment, but also on developing enough people with the technical skills required by the sector.

MAHANAKORN’s semiconductor development strategy therefore combines education, laboratory training, research and industry partnerships, with UTAC identified as one of the companies supporting training and career opportunities.

The collaboration also creates opportunities for knowledge exchange and specialised research that could contribute to future innovation within Thailand’s semiconductor ecosystem.

For students, this makes the industry feel less distant.

The pathway from university to semiconductor technology can begin with a course, continue through a laboratory or project, and eventually move into an internship, research role or career inside the industry.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in semiconductors, electronics and advanced manufacturing can begin building relevant foundations through:

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Develop knowledge in electronic circuits, communication systems and technologies connected with semiconductor devices and advanced electronics.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Build foundations in computing, artificial intelligence and intelligent systems increasingly connected with semiconductor-enabled technologies.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

Process & Industrial Engineering
Explore production systems, process optimisation and industrial technologies relevant to complex manufacturing environments.

Explore Process & Industrial Engineering →

Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Take electronic and electrical engineering further through advanced study connected with modern technology and research.

Explore Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering →

Postgraduate Research
Explore advanced research pathways in engineering and technology.

Explore Postgraduate Research →

The strongest link between university and industry is not a partnership on paper. It is the experience students gain from working with the technologies and people behind the industry.

Building the Factory of the Future

Modern automotive manufacturing is becoming increasingly connected.

Vehicles are more intelligent.

Factories are more automated.

Production systems depend on data, sensors and software.

And engineers are expected to understand how physical machines and digital systems work together.

On 15 November 2024, MAHANAKORN announced an academic collaboration with Chongqing Jiaotong University in China focused on innovation in the automotive industry and modern manufacturing systems.

The partnership places particular emphasis on smart technology, automation and the Internet of Things (IoT), with the aim of supporting industrial development in both Thailand and China.

From Student Exchange to Joint Research

The collaboration is designed to operate across both education and research.

It includes:

This gives students and faculty opportunities to learn from a different engineering environment while working on challenges that are increasingly shared across countries.

A modern factory in Thailand and a modern factory in China may operate in different markets, but many of the underlying technologies are similar.

Automation.

Data.

AI.

Connected machines.

And increasingly intelligent production systems.

Where AI Meets Manufacturing

The cooperation also covers research and practical training in manufacturing technology, data analytics and the application of artificial intelligence within production systems.

That combination reflects how industrial engineering is changing.

In a traditional manufacturing environment, machines may operate independently.

In a smart factory, systems can generate data continuously.

Sensors can monitor equipment.

Software can analyse production performance.

AI can help identify patterns or support decision-making.

Automation can connect multiple stages of production into a more coordinated system.

For students, this means manufacturing is becoming as much a digital challenge as a mechanical one.

Automotive Engineering Is Becoming More Connected

The automotive industry is changing at the same time.

Modern vehicles increasingly combine:

This makes automotive innovation naturally interdisciplinary.

A mechanical engineer may work alongside electronics engineers, software developers and manufacturing specialists.

A production engineer may need to understand both physical processes and digital information.

And a factory designed for future vehicles may look very different from one built for the automotive industry of the past.

MAHANAKORN’s wider engineering activities also include development in electric vehicles, intelligent drive systems, automation and motorsport engineering, reinforcing the connection between future mobility and advanced manufacturing.

Learning Across Thailand and China

International collaboration adds another dimension to that learning.

Working with Chongqing Jiaotong University creates opportunities for students and researchers to experience different approaches to engineering, manufacturing and technology development.

The agreement also creates a platform for both universities to develop workshops and research projects together, particularly in technologies linked with Industry 4.0.

For students, the value is not simply travelling to another university.

It is learning how engineering problems are approached in another industrial environment — and understanding that future technology careers increasingly operate across borders.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in automotive technology, automation and smart manufacturing can begin building relevant foundations through:

Mechanical Engineering
Develop knowledge in mechanics, engineering design, manufacturing and physical systems connected with automotive and advanced industrial technologies.

Explore Mechanical Engineering →

Process & Industrial Engineering
Explore industrial systems, process optimisation, production technologies and data-driven approaches to improving modern manufacturing.

Explore Process & Industrial Engineering →

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Build foundations in electronics, sensors, control and communication technologies used across automation, connected machines and intelligent vehicle systems.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Develop skills in computing, artificial intelligence and data for smart factories, automation and increasingly intelligent automotive systems.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

Global Pathways
Explore international study opportunities that allow students to build academic and professional experience across different countries and university systems.

Explore Global Pathways →

The factory of the future will not be built by one technology alone. It will be built where engineering, automation, data and intelligent systems come together.

Bringing Satellite Technology onto Campus

Satellite communications can feel like technology that exists far away from university life.

At MAHANAKORN, it is being tested directly on campus.

MAHANAKORN has partnered with GalaxySpace, a satellite communications technology company from China, to research and test an integrated broadband communication system connecting Low-Earth Orbit satellites with ground-based communication infrastructure.

The collaboration includes a ground station known as Mini-Spider, installed as part of the university’s Space Technology Research Center.

According to the project announcement, it became the first university-based ground station in Thailand to experiment with satellite communications using the high-frequency Q/V band.

How Satellite Internet Reaches the Ground

A satellite network needs much more than satellites in orbit.

Information must travel between space and infrastructure on Earth.

The GalaxySpace system being tested at MAHANAKORN includes two important parts:

User terminals can be installed in fixed locations or mounted on vehicles, while connected devices can access the network through technologies such as LAN or Wi-Fi.

For engineering students, this creates a useful way to understand satellite communications as a complete system rather than simply something happening in orbit.

Electronics, antennas, radio-frequency engineering, networking, software and ground infrastructure all have to work together.

Testing Low-Earth Orbit Communications in Thailand

The partnership is not limited to installing equipment.

Researchers and engineers from MAHANAKORN and GalaxySpace are using the infrastructure to study, experiment with and evaluate Low-Earth Orbit satellite technologies.

Initial testing began in March 2024.

According to MAHANAKORN, the project successfully demonstrated internet connectivity through the satellite system and tested Thai internet traffic through GalaxySpace’s Low-Earth Orbit satellite network.

The project also operates within a regulatory sandbox supported by Thailand’s telecommunications regulator, allowing research and testing of Q/V-band satellite technology under controlled conditions.

That matters because new communication technologies need to be understood not only theoretically, but also through real-world testing involving signal performance, equipment, spectrum and network reliability.

Why Low-Earth Orbit Satellites Matter

Low-Earth Orbit satellite networks are attracting attention because they can expand connectivity to places where traditional infrastructure may be difficult to build.

Potential applications extend beyond ordinary internet access.

Satellite connectivity can support areas such as:

The technology therefore sits at the intersection of space engineering and everyday digital infrastructure.

A satellite may orbit hundreds of kilometres above Earth, but the services it enables can eventually affect people, businesses and communities on the ground.

From Research Infrastructure to Student Experience

One of the most important parts of the collaboration is the opportunity to connect research infrastructure with education.

MAHANAKORN states that knowledge gained from the GalaxySpace project can contribute to teaching, curriculum development and practical learning opportunities for students and faculty working in space-related technology.

Instead of learning satellite communications only through diagrams or simulations, students can study an environment where real equipment, real signals and real engineering challenges are being tested.

That is especially relevant as the space industry expands beyond traditional government missions into communications, Earth observation, data services and commercial technology.

For students entering engineering today, the space economy could become much closer to their future careers than it first appears.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in satellites, communications and intelligent technology can begin building relevant foundations through:

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Develop knowledge in electronics, communication systems and signal technologies directly connected with satellite communications, wireless networks and advanced electronic systems.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Build foundations in computing, artificial intelligence and data for connected systems, network technologies and applications built around satellite information.

Explore Computer & AI Engineering →

Mechanical Engineering
Explore engineering design, mechanics and physical systems that contribute to complex technologies used across aerospace and advanced engineering industries.

Explore Mechanical Engineering →

Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Take communication and electronic engineering further through advanced technical study and research.

Explore Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering →

Postgraduate Research
Explore opportunities to continue into advanced engineering and technology research.

Explore Postgraduate Research →

Space technology becomes much easier to understand when the infrastructure connecting Earth and orbit is right there on campus.

Building the People Behind Semiconductor Technology

The semiconductor industry needs more than factories and investment.

It needs researchers who can design new chips, engineers who understand advanced electronic systems and specialists capable of turning research into technologies that solve real problems.

On 5 June 2024, Imperial College London announced plans to expand its collaboration with MAHANAKORN through new PhD scholarship opportunities in semiconductor and integrated circuit design within Imperial’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The initiative builds on decades of academic connection between the two universities and creates a pathway for Thai researchers to develop advanced expertise within an international research environment.

From Integrated Circuits to Future Healthcare

Semiconductor research is not limited to making faster processors.

Integrated circuits are increasingly becoming part of technologies used in healthcare, sensing, artificial intelligence, agriculture and intelligent devices.

The collaboration between MAHANAKORN and Imperial focuses particularly on developing expertise in semiconductor integrated circuit design and technologies with future healthcare applications.

That connection creates an interesting research challenge.

An engineer working on future healthcare technology may need to understand electronic circuits.

But they may also need knowledge of sensors, artificial intelligence, embedded computing and how electronic systems interact with biological information.

Advanced research therefore becomes increasingly interdisciplinary.

From Scholarship Plans to SABER Lab

The collaboration announced in 2024 later developed into the Semiconductor AI & BioSensor Electronics Research Lab — SABER Lab, jointly established by MAHANAKORN and Imperial College London.

SABER Lab brings together research in:

Research and training take place across facilities at Imperial College London and MAHANAKORN, connecting researchers in Thailand with expertise and infrastructure in the United Kingdom.

What began as deeper academic cooperation has therefore grown into a dedicated international research platform.

Fully Funded PhD Opportunities for Thai Researchers

Thailand’s Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is supporting five PhD scholarships each year for five years for Thai researchers studying within Imperial’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering through the SABER Lab initiative.

The PhD programme is based at Imperial College London and focuses on areas including:

Current studentships cover full international tuition fees and a tax-free stipend, with successful researchers completing an Imperial College London PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

For students beginning an engineering degree today, this shows how far a technical foundation can eventually lead.

An undergraduate interest in circuits or AI can develop into postgraduate study, international research and work on technologies with applications in healthcare, agriculture and future electronic systems.

Why International Research Connections Matter

Research rarely develops inside one institution alone.

Semiconductor technology is global by nature.

A chip may be researched in one country, designed by an international team, manufactured elsewhere and eventually become part of a product used around the world.

Working across institutions gives researchers access to different expertise, equipment, ideas and research communities.

Imperial reported that its academics had co-authored 570 publications with Thai partners since 2018, with MAHANAKORN identified among its key research partners in Thailand.

For students and researchers, partnerships like this show that studying engineering can lead beyond the boundaries of a single campus.

Where Could You Take It Next?

Students interested in semiconductors, electronics, AI and advanced research can begin building relevant foundations through:

Communication & Electronics Engineering
Develop knowledge in electronic circuits, communication systems and advanced electronics that can form the foundation for semiconductor and integrated circuit research.

Explore Communication & Electronics Engineering →

Computer & AI Engineering
Build foundations in computing, artificial intelligence and data for intelligent technologies increasingly connected with advanced semiconductor hardware.

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Master of Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Advance your technical knowledge in electrical and electronic engineering while preparing for deeper research and technology development.

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PhD in Electrical Engineering
Continue toward doctoral-level research in advanced electrical and electronic engineering.

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Postgraduate Research
Explore pathways into advanced research, international collaboration and technology development.

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The technologies shaping the future need researchers capable of pushing beyond what already exists. International collaboration gives them a larger place to begin.